On the night of May 19th, at approximately 23:30, on Avenue 520 between streets 161 and 162 in the western part of La Plata, a fatal traffic collision occurred. A white Ford Ranger pickup truck, with stolen license plates and a tampered chassis number, struck three young men who were walking down the street, pushing a Honda Wave motorcycle. The impact caused the pickup to drag the motorcycle and the victims for about 40 meters. After the crash, the driver, Héctor Gonzalo Emanuel Duarte, alias 'Chiquito', and his passenger, Federico Pérez, fled the scene without providing assistance and took a bag from the truck, as captured by security cameras. The victims were identified as Franco Agustín Giampieri and Axel Geremías Martínez, who died instantly, and Esteban Omar Acosta, who was seriously injured and hospitalized. According to the accident expert report, the pickup was traveling at a speed of no less than 85 km/h, while the motorcycle was moving at less than 30 km/h. Duarte remained a fugitive for four months. Evidence, including WhatsApp messages, links him to schemes to obstruct the investigation and hide in various locations with the help of accomplices. Witnesses and neighbors of Melchor Romero also affirmed that Duarte was known for manipulating and cloning pickup trucks. The victims were part of a rock band called 'Rojo al Vino'. Their relatives are asking for a life sentence and are closely following the case's progress. The prosecutor, Fernando Padován, has requested the case be elevated to trial. Duarte is charged with double culpable homicide, aggravated by reckless driving, multiple fatalities, and fleeing the scene, as well as aggravated culpable injuries. With the requisition presented, the case will be elevated to oral trial as long as the Guarantees Judge, Pablo Raele, agrees with the prosecutor's argument. Duarte, who is currently detained, will have to face criminal charges for the fatal crash.
